Comb for hair clipper and adjustable support therefor



Nov. 8, 1955 p D. MOAULIFFE 2,722,741

COMB FOR HAIR CLIPPER AND ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Nov. 13,1952 yd b /m/ QTTOQ/VEV United States Patent COMB FGR HAIR CLIPPER ANDADJUSTABLE SUPPORT THEREFOR Patrick D. McAuliife, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application November 13, 1952, Serial No. 320,280

15 Claims. (Cl. 30-201) This invention relates to apparatus for clippinghair,

i and particularly to the well known type in which a pair of slottedblades are moved relatively to each other .in a direction to cause theclipping to occur between the edges of the opposed slots.

Such blades are usually quite wide, of the order of one or two inches,to clip the hair along a relatively wide strip. It has been common, inthe past, to provide an adjustable comb to determine how closely thehair is to be cut. By this means, a uniform length of hair is left alongthe path of the clipper.

In some instances, such as near the temples and behind the cars, it ishighly desirable that the hair be of minimum length at the hair line,and have a gradually increasing length as the top of the head isapproached. These results have usually been effected by proper skilledmanipulation of shears or scissors.

It is one of the objects of this invention to make it possible to obtainthese eflects in a simple manner, without requiring other than ordinaryskill. More particularly, the invention contemplates the provision of anadjustable attachment for a hair clipper to obtain these results.

It is another object of this invention to provide an attachment for thispurpose which is adjustable to vary the relative lengths of the cut hairat opposite edges of the blades. Thus, in some instances, the differencein the length of the hair left in the path of the clippers at one sideof the path and the other may be readily predetermined, as well as theabsolute length of the hair at one of the sides.

It is still another object of this invention to make it possible to clipthe hair more closely than heretofore with the usual type of hairclipper.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of oneembodiment of the invention. For this purpose there is shown a form inthe drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification.The form will now be described in detail, illustrating the generalprinciples of the invention; but it is to be understood that thisdetailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since thescope of this invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an attachment, including an adjustablecomb plate, mounted upon a clipper, and incorporating the invention, thecomb plate being cut at an angle with respect to the lower cuttingblade;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken along a plane corresponding to line 22of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view taken from a plane corresponding to line 33 of Fig. 1;and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view, similar to Fig. 1, showing anotheradjusted position of the comb plate, and still other positions beingindicated in phantom lines.

In the present instance, an electrically driven clipper 1 is shown,having a stationary lower blade 2 and a vibratory upper blade 3. Thevibrations are in a direction parallel to the leading edges of theblades. These blades are provided with cooperating slots 4 and 5 (Fig.3) between which hair to be cut protrudes, and which is cut as theclipper is operated. Since this action is well known, furtherdescription is considered unnecessary.

The lower blade 2 is appropriately attached to the lower portion of theclipper 1, as, for example, by the aid of the screws 6.

By the superimposed position of the blades 2 and 3 and a vibratorymovement in a direction parallel to the front edge 7 of the stationaryblade 2, the desired cutting action is produced.

The front edge 7 is, in this instance, made relatively narrow, and theblade 2 has a lower surface 8 (Fig. 4) which slopes with respect to theupper cutting surface 9. This lower surface converges with the uppersurface to produce the narrow edge 7. The thickness of the blade 2therefore increases gradually toward the rear of the blade. In this way,a very close clipping action can be produced.

A comb plate 10 of fiat sheet metal, or other appropriate material, isprovided to cooperate with the blades 2 and 3. This comb plate isprovided with a series of deep slots 11 to form the comb construction.The forward edge 12 of this comb plate, as described hereinafter, may beadjusted forwardly or rearwardly in order to provide an adjustableguard.

The manner of mounting the comb plate 10 is such that it may be slantedto approach one longitudinal edge of the blade 2, as well as to bespaced considerably from the other edge. This is indicated in Fig. 3.

In this figure, the right-hand portion of the plate 19 approaches moreclosely to the right-hand edges of the blades 2 and 3 than to theleft-hand edges.

In this way, the comb plate 10 can be used to cut a path through thehair in which the hair is left longer along one edge of the path (theleft-hand edge in this in stance) than along the other on the oppositeedge. Accordingly, a gradually increasing length of hair is left. Thisis useful, for example, in cutting hair back of the ears, causing hairto be closely clipped immediately behind the ears while, at the sametime, the places farther away from the base of the car are leftsubstantially and progressively longer.

The angularity of the comb plate 10 is made adjustable. This is effectedby the aid of the supporting structure of the comb plate 10, which willnow be described.

The opposite edges of the comb plate 10 are, in this instance, receivedin slots 13 and 14 (Fig. 2) disposed in the clamp members 15 and 16,respectively. These clamp members are urged to clamping position by theaid of a bolt 17. This bolt 17 has a non-circular portion 18 fitting acorresponding non-circular aperture in the clamp member 15. It alsopasses through the spaced depending cars 19 formed integrally with abracket 20. interposed between the ears 19 and around bolt 17, is aspacer sleeve 21. A washer 22 is disposed on the bolt 17 and on theouter surface of the member 16. A thumb nut 23, engaging the right-handthreaded end or" the bolt 17, is used for urging the parts together soas to hold the edges of the plate 10 in firm adjusted position.

in this way, the plate 10 can be angularly adjusted about the axis ofthe bolt 17 when the nut 23 is loosened. At the same time, the positionof the forward edge of the comb plate 10, with respect to the blades 2and 3, may also be adjusted as indicated by the phantom lines in Fig. 4.This is eifected by appropriate sliding of the plate 10 with respect tothe grooves 13 and 14 while the nut 23 is loosened.

In order to provide the angular adjustment of the plate with respect tothe longitudinal edges of the plates 2 and 3, the bracket 20 ispivotally mounted with respect to the clipper 1. For this purpose, thebracket 20 is pro vided with an ear 24. This ear is apertured for thereception of a screw 25which also passes through an ear 26 of a support27. This support 27 is firmly attached to the lower surface of the blade2 by the screws 6. The screw 25 is provided with a knurled thumb nut 29for loosening and tightening bracket 20 with respect to the support 27.By the aid of this screw 25, the angular position of the bracket on anaxis corresponding to the axis of the screw 25 can thus be effected. Theaxis of the screw 25 is in a direction substantially perpendicular tothe forward edge 7 of the blade 2. Furthermore, graduation marks 28 areprovided on the car 26 to indicate the degree of angularity of the plate10.

The position of the plate 10 in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 is shown as at anoblique angle about the axis 25 to bring the comb plate 18 to theposition indicated in Fig. 3. The comb plate is also adjustable aboutthe axis of bolt 17, so that the longitudinal edges of plate It) may bemade oblique to any desired degree with respect to the longitudinaledges of blades 2 and 3.

In Fig. 4, the plate 10 is shown in intermediate position, lying closelyto the tapered surface 8 of the blade 2. The adjustment of the plate 10in a direction forward or rearward, with respect to the edge 7, isetfected by adjusting its position in the grooves 13 and 14. The angularposition about the axis of the bolt 17 is similarly adjustable by theaid of the bolt 17.

The inventor claims:

1. In a device of the character described: a hair clipper having a pairof superposed relatively movable blades; a comb plate adapted tounderlie one of the blades; and universal mounting means securing saidplate on the clipper for angular adjustment about axes transverse to andparallel with the forward edges of the blades.

2. In a device of the character set forth in claim 1, the universalmounting means including two individually adjustable pivotal means foradjusting the plate about the two axes.

3. In a device of the character set forth in claim 1, the universalmounting means being located rearwardly of the blades, and means forspacing the rear portion of the comb plate adjacent the rear of theblades a substantial distance below the plane of the blades to enablesubstantial pivotal movement of said plate about the axis transverse tothe forward edges of the blades.

4. in an attachment for a hair clipper having a pair of superposedrelatively movable blades: a comb plate adapted to underlie one of theblades; a support adapted to be secured to the clipper; and a bracketfor the plate and pivotally mounted on the support for securement to theclipper on an axis transverse to the forward edges of the blades; saidbracket having means clamping opposite edges of the plate.

5. In an attachment for a hair clipper having a pair of superposedrelatively movable blades; a comb plate adapted to underlie one of theblades; a support adapted to be secured to the clipper; and a bracketfor the plate and pivotally mounted on the support for securement to theclipper on an axis transverse to the forward edges of the blades; saidbracket including a pivot member extending transversely of said axis,and clamping means for the edges of the plate.

6. In an attachment for a hair clipper having a pair of superposedrelatively movable blades; a comb plate adapted to underlie one of theblades; a support adapted to be secured to the clipper; and a bracketfor the plate and pivotally mounted on the support for securement to theclipper on an axis transverse to the forward edges of the blades; saidbracket including a pair of clamping elements engaging opposite edges ofthe plate, as well as means for urging the elements to clamping positionand for pivoting said elements about an axis substantially parallel tothe forward edges of the blades.

7. In a device of the character described:"a comb plate; a pair of clampelements engaging opposite edges of the plate; a bolt for urging theclamp elements toward each other; a support for the bolt; and means forangularly adjusting the support about an axis transverse to the boltaxis.

8. In a device of the character described: a comb plate; a pair of clampelements engaging opposite edges of the plate; a bolt for urging theclamp elements toward each other; a support having a pair of earsthrough which the bolt passes; a sleeve interposed between the ears; andmeans for angularly adjusting the support about an axis transverse tothe bolt axis.

9. In an attachment for hair clippers having a pair of superposedrelatively movable blades: a bracket adapted to be secured to theclipper for angular adjustment about an axis transverse to the edges ofthe blades; a pair of opposed clamp elements carried. by the bracket;means securing the clamp elements on the bracket for angular adjustmentabout an axis transverse to said axis of ad justment of said bracket;and a comb plate between the clamp elements and held therebetween.

10. In an attachment for hair clippers having a pair of superposedrelatively movable blades: a bracket adapted to be secured to theclipper for angular adjustment about an axis transverse to the edges ofthe blades; a pair of opposed clamp elements carried by the bracket;means securing the clamp elements on the bracket for angular adjustmentabout an axis transverse to said axis of adjustment of said bracket; anda comb plate having an end edge; said comb plate being adjustably heldby said elements for movement of said comb plate in a directiontransverse to the axis of adjustment of said clamp elements on saidbracket.

11. In combination: hair clippers having a pair of superposed relativelymovable blades; a bracket angularly adjustably secured to said clipperfor movement about an axis substantially normal to the edges of saidblades; a comb plate beneath the blades; and means secured to thebracket for angular adjustment about an axis extending in a directionsubstantially normal to the direction of said axis of angular adjustmentof said bracket for mounting said comb plate.

12. In combination: hair clippers having a pair of superposed relativelymovable blades; a bracket angularly adjustably secured to said clipperfor movement about an axis substantially normal to the edges of saidblades; a comb plate beneath the blades; and means secured to thebracket for angular adjustment about an axis extending in a directionsubstantially normal to the direction of said axis of angular adjustmentof said bracket for mounting said comb plate; said comb plate beingadjustable with respect to said means for movement in a directiontransverse to the axis of adjustment of said means on said bracket.

13. In an attachment for hair clippers: a bracket; a pair of clampelements; means mounting the clamp elements for movement about an axisfixed with respect to the bracket; said clamp elements having opposedsurfaces respectively having elongate slots; a comb plate havingopposite lateral edges received in the slots respectively; and means forsecuring the clamp elements in an adjusted position and for moving theclamp elements toward each other; said bracket having an ear extendingin a direction transverse to said axis for mounting said bracket on saidclipper.

14. In combination: hair clippers having a pair of relatively movableblades; a bracket; a pair of clamp elements; means mounting the clampelements for movement about an axis fixed with respect to the bracket;said clamp elements having opposed surfaces respectively having elongateslots; a comb plate having opposite lateral edges received in the slotsrespectively; means for means cooperating with the ear for securing saidbracket 5 to said clipper for angular adjustment about an axis extendingin a direction substantially normal to the edges of said blades.

15. In a device of the character described a hair clipper having a pairof superposed relatively movable blades; a 10 ment of the plate about anaxis extending in a direction substantially longitudinally of and aboutan axis extend- 15 ing substantially normal to said edge; the rear edgeof the plate being spaced from the said one of the blades.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS233,695 Priest Oct. 26, 1880 757,359 Stevens Apr. 12, 1904 1,596,241Donnellon Aug. 17, 1926 2,006,493 Andis July 2, 1935 2,381,046 GiorgiAug. 7, 1945 2,517,999 Giorgi Aug. 8, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 11,170 GreatBritain July 11, 1889

